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FWC: BRA vs NOR live on SN ExtraOsaka knocks top seed Sabalenka out of Wimbledon
Reuters • July 6th, 2026 7:29 am
Naomi Osaka & Aryna Sabalenka | Photo: AP
Women's top seed Aryna Sabalenka has been knocked out in the fourth round of Wimbledon by an inspired Naomi Osaka with the Japanese four-time grand slam winner blazing to a 6-2 7-6 (7-2) win on Centre Court.
With eight grand slam titles between them, the blockbuster duel topped the day seven bill on Monday (NZ time) but it ended up lacking the expected fireworks as 14th seed Osaka dominated.
Sabalenka was left screaming in frustration during a 32-minute opening set as her power game misfired.
The second set was more like the contest the packed crowd were anticipating but Osaka stayed cool in the tiebreak to claim her biggest win since returning to the Tour following her 2023 maternity break.
"It's been a long time since I've had so much fun on the court," Osaka said.
"And to do it here, it really means a lot."
Sabalenka had beaten Osaka in all three of her previous matches with Osaka this year — including at the same stage of the French Open last month.
But this time Sabalenka couldn't handle Osaka's pace and flat groundstrokes, which had an even bigger impact than usual as her balls flew through the air faster on the warmest day of the tournament so far.
World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka has made her earliest exit at a Grand Slam since the 2022 French Open | Photo: AP
After third-round defeats for defending champion Iga Swiatek and second seed Elena Rybakina on Sunday, the door had finally swung wide open for Sabalenka after three successive semi-final runs, but she was well below her best.
"Now I want to go and get drunk and forget about tennis," the 28-year-old said after arriving at her press conference minutes after walking off court.
Osaka will next face tenth seed Karolina Muchova, who earlier beat 2024 Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova 7-5, 5-7, 6-3.
Krejcikova was the last remaining of the four previous champions that started the tournament following losses for Serena Williams, Elena Rybakina and Iga Swiatek.
